Letter: Water well monitoring program needed

jeff-wesley
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley (Aaron Hall)

Please consider this as feedback from public meeting #2 and for the REA considerations. I do not speak for Council but I have represented this area for over 20 years and wish to share some concerns I have.

While I do not know what is causing local well water concerns (not enough evidence to say wind turbines are the cause and yet not enough evidence to say the wind turbines are not playing a role) I know that the MOECC and anyone disturbing the aquifer should be absolutely certain what is or is not a factor. What we do know is that something is happening to the aquifer in parts of Chatham-Kent.

In order to determine what is going on I feel that the MOECC and the Otter Creek Project should, at the very least, set up pre and post construction well monitoring at wells in proximity to where the wind turbines will be erected. A pre construction well test will determine the quality of the well (water quality, flow rate, recovery rate etc.) and develop a base line. Once construction is completed and post construction well monitoring takes place (for how long needs to be determined) we will have the facts to determine if wind turbines are involved or not.

It should be noted that a water well monitoring program will also provide benefits to Otter Creek. A bad well identified prior to construction means this well will not become an issue for Otter Creek after construction. Plus this project will get some badly needed positive community relationships from a proactive, voluntary water well monitoring program.

The MOECC needs to acknowledge that they have the responsibility to protect ground water. No one else does. We know because we have searched for an organization that exists today that has that responsibility and it always comes back to the MOECC.

The water well testing needs to be completed by a qualified independent third party testing group that reports directly to the MOECC and is thus free from any conflicts of interest.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments.

Jeff Wesley
Wallaceburg


* Editor’s note: Wesley shared these comments and concerns with representatives from the Otter Creek Wind Farm at their public meeting held last week in Wallaceburg.

– Photo credit: Aaron Hall

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